5 Ways To Care For Wildlife During a Heatwave
With the increase in temperatures across the UK which is now becoming a more common occurrence, the wildlife in our gardens is beginning to suffer. Whilst some of us may enjoy the heat, our friends outside often struggle to cope in intense temperatures, especially during prolonged periods. Luckily there are some simple actions that we can take to help provide some much-needed care for nature during heatwaves.
Provide drinking and bathing water
It may seem like a simple thing, however filling your garden with shallow bowls topped up with water is a great way to provide access to water for all different kinds of birds and mammals. The water will also need to be changed daily to avoid harbouring nasty bacteria which may spread from other animals. Bird baths are also a great idea for helping your feathered friends cool off in the heat, as they provide a space for them to cool off and drink from. We recommend the Aristotle Oasis Bird Bath & Drinker, as the design allows for not just birds but also bees, beneficial insects and small mammals to enter and exit safely to drink and bathe.
Keep your plants watered
To keep wildlife as well as your plants happy during a heatwave, we suggest making sure your flowers and greenery in your garden are watered regularly. This will provide hydration for bees and butterflies and will also benefit small insects. As these are part of the food chain, a well hydrated insect will make a tasty snack for birds and mammals who may be finding it harder to find food when it is hot. Watering your grass will also keep worms and burrowing bugs cool and moist.
Make shade
With some gardens benefitting from getting the sun all day, it is important to provide points of shelter for animals who are overheating. Trees, bushes and ivy are great places for bats, birds and insects to hide to get out of the heat, so it may be wise to think before getting the shears out and trimming back your foliage. Hedgehogs really love piles of leaves as they are damp and dense, which is why it is important to check for them before starting bonfires. Habitats such as bat boxes and hedgehog homes also provide a great shelter for those small mammals to get out of the heat. If you have fish in your garden, it is important to check that the water is topped up as direct sunlight can cause water to evaporate quickly.
‘Bee’ on the lookout
The heat can be incredibly tiring for bees, and it is common to find bumblebees lying on the ground whilst they recover. A quick way to give some life back to a bee is to offer them a water and sugar solution on a bottle cap or spoon. This can give a quick boost of energy to a flagging pollinator so they can fly back to their hive. If you are looking for a portable way to help the bees, you could use the Original Bee Revival Kit. This handy keyring contains solution to help pollinators back on their way, along with scannable QR code to help identify the bee. You can also help pollinators by planting flowers which provide nectar.
Leave out food
Small mammals such as hedgehogs are vulnerable during the summer. Organisations such as the British Hedgehog Preservation Society often have an influx of calls reporting struggling hedgehogs. As well as providing water, you can also provide food as their natural food is hard to come by with the ground being so hard. Meaty pet foods such as cat or dog food are good for them, however we recommend Nourish Hedgehog Food. This is made with added vitamins and brewers yeast and is suitable for all adult wild hedgehogs.
Remember, if you find an animal in distress during a heatwave and you are unsure of how to help, there are organisations which can. If the animal is a wild bird or mammal smaller than a rabbit, contact your local vet or rehabilitation centre. If the animal is larger than a rabbit, call the RSPCA.